fore-and-aft

1 of 2

adjective

ˌfȯr-ə-ˈnaft 

1

: lying, running, or acting in the general line of the length of a construction (such as a ship or a house) : longitudinal

2

: having no square sails

fore and aft

2 of 2

adverb

1

: lengthwise of a ship : from stem to stern

2

: in, at, or toward both the bow and stern

3

: in or at the front and back or the beginning and end

Examples of fore-and-aft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The second row seats slide fore-and-aft, allowing for easy adjustment based on third-row legroom needs. —Karl Brauer, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Those Magic Slide seats in the second-row are far more comfortable than the Pacifica's Stow-and-Go second-row seats, and the Honda's chairs can move both side-to-side and fore-and-aft, allowing for multiple configurations that keep the peace when sibling rivalries escalate. —Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 22 Aug. 2023

Adverb

There’s ample wiggle room, with tolerances of 20 cm left to right, and 15 cm fore and aft. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Dec. 2025

The Zip has a rear propeller to move it fore and aft and side thrusters. —Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

circa 1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fore-and-aft

• antiaircraft
• choreographed
• chromatographed
• mimeographed
• abaft
• aircraft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• downdraft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft

Kids Definition

fore-and-aft

adjective

ˌfōr-ə-ˈnaft, 

ˌfȯr-

1

: lying, running, or acting along the length of a structure (as of a ship)

fore-and-aft sails

2

: having no square sails